Principles of Investment

1. Ethical and Responsible Investing
   1. Overview of Ethical and Responsible Investing
      1. Definition and importance
         1. Aligning financial goals with ethical values
         2. Addressing global and social issues through investing
         3. Contribution to sustainable economic development
   2. Principles of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) Investing
      1. Environmental considerations
         1. Climate change and carbon emissions
         2. Biodiversity and ecosystem preservation
         3. Water efficiency and waste management
         4. Renewable energy and resource usage
      2. Social considerations
         1. Employee relations and diversity
         2. Product liability and safety
         3. Community engagement and philanthropy
         4. Human rights and labor standards
      3. Governance considerations
         1. Board composition and effectiveness
         2. Executive compensation
         3. Shareholder rights and corporate transparency
         4. Ethics and anti-corruption policies
   3. Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)
      1. Definition and history
         1. Evolution from exclusionary screens to positive impact
         2. Role in social justice movements and advocacy
      2. Screening strategies
         1. Negative/exclusionary screening
            1. Avoiding investments in tobacco, weapons, etc.
         2. Positive/best-in-class screening
            1. Selecting companies leading in ESG practices
         3. Norms-based screening
            1. Compliance with international standards and norms
      3. SRI-focused funds and indices
         1. Accessing SRI mutual funds and ETFs
         2. SRI indices tracking and benefits
   4. Impact Investing
      1. Definition and objectives
         1. Combining measurable social impact with financial return
         2. Focusing on sectors like education, healthcare, and clean energy
      2. Measuring impact
         1. Metrics and standards for impact assessment
         2. Case studies and reporting frameworks
      3. Examples of impact investments
         1. Microfinance initiatives
         2. Social enterprises and B Corps
   5. Evaluating Investment Opportunities Based on Ethical Criteria
      1. Process of due diligence for ethical investments
         1. Understanding ESG data and ratings
         2. Analyzing company sustainability reports
      2. Tools and resources for evaluation
         1. ESG rating agencies and platforms
         2. Ethical fund performance reviews
         3. Investment advisory services specializing in responsible investing
   6. Challenges and Criticisms in Ethical and Responsible Investing
      1. Greenwashing and authenticity concerns
         1. Identifying genuine ESG commitments versus marketing tactics
      2. Performance and financial returns debate
         1. Comparing responsible investments with traditional portfolios
         2. Identifying trade-offs and reconciling with personal risk tolerance
      3. Regulatory and standardization challenges
         1. Lack of unified global standards or definitions
         2. Efforts towards consistent ESG disclosure requirements
   7. Trends and Future of Ethical and Responsible Investing
      1. Rise of thematic and targeted ESG funds
         1. Focus on themes like gender diversity and clean technology
      2. Increasing demand for transparency and accountability
         1. Stakeholder activism and shareholder engagement
      3. Technological advancements in ESG data analytics
         1. Role of artificial intelligence and big data in ethical investing